Month: January 2017

Let’s face it- traveling can be stressful. Between pricey flights, security lines, weather delays, and germs, it feels like Murphy’s law is constantly in full effect. Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. However, with so much uncertainty, it’s nice to know there are things you can do to eliminate some of your struggle. Here are our top 10 mistakes to avoid when flying:

Not booking your seat when you book a plane ticketAs you can imagine, the most desirable seats go quickly, so if you don’t select the seat you want when you book your ticket, you’ll be left with whatever seats are left over. Typically these include middle seats and seats at the very back of the plane near the lavatories.

Dressing too comfy for the flightThere’s certainly an appeal to dressing in your comfiest outfit when traveling. However, looking like a slob, or dressing in pajamas is not the best idea. One important reason is that you never know who you will run into, or meet on a plane or in an airport. People have made important business and personal connections while traveling, so don’t get caught looking like you just rolled out of bed. Plus, in the event your luggage gets lost, you don’t want to be stuck in clothes that don’t represent you well. A good rule of thumb is to wear clothes that you wouldn’t be embarrassed for your boss to see you in, but that are also comfortable.

Expecting you will have Wi-Fi
Sure, most terminals offer complimentary Wi-Fi these days, but not all of them. And sometimes the Wi-Fi can go down or be a bit spotty. If you have work that urgently needs to be done over Wi-Fi, you might want to invest in a mobile hotspot. Otherwise, plan to get other non-internet related work done, or bring a good book to keep you occupied while waiting for your flights.

Wearing uncomfortable shoesOf course you want to look cute, but the airport is not the place to pull out your fancy stilettos. You will be doing a bit of walking to get to your gate (if you’re not running), so make sure to have shoes that can support a bit of trekking. If absolutely necessary, pack your heels in your carry-on so you can change quickly when you get off the airplane.

Not checking your itineraryAny time you travel- anywhere- you should always keep a copy of your itinerary with you. Make sure you have information about your flights/connections, transit methods, hotel accommodations, and more. Be sure to know (and double check) important locations and times so that you don’t miss important connections or get stranded without proper accommodations.

Packing your cosmetics in your checked luggageAs we know all too well, staying clean and fresh on a plane is so important. Be sure to keep your AirPretty kit and your favorite cosmetics in your carry-on bag so you have all the necessities with you when you need them most. Plus, you will look enviably gorgeous when getting off your flight.

Not calculating travel time into your plansEveryone hates feeling rushed. What’s worse than rushing, is being late (especially when you’re at risk of missing a flight, connection, or important meeting). Be sure to factor in the time it takes to get from point A to point B, and give yourself some extra time as a buffer in case of delays. This could include time in the security line, in a taxi, in the inter-terminal tram, and more. When in doubt, it’s always better to be too early rather than cutting it too close.

Not packing an extra toteOften in our travels, we come across things we want to purchase, or souvenirs we want to remember our trip. However, bringing these items home can pose a challenge when you’re stuck with limited luggage space. Bringing an additional tote that can easily be folded up into your luggage when not in use can be a huge relief! These don’t take up a lot of space, but can be used to hold all the extra items you want to bring home if necessary. We suggest always having one in your luggage- just in case!

Assuming there will be food on the flightMore and more we are starting to see airlines stop serving food- especially on shorter flights. Relying on the food service on flights can often leave you disappointed, and your stomach empty and rumbling. It’s always wise to keep some healthy snacks in your carry on bag just in case to fight hunger and keep you satisfied and comfortable. (Here’s a list of some other things to always keep in your carry on bag!)

Not getting a head start on fighting jet lagEveryone who has traveled across time zones knows the pain of jet lag. Traveling is exhausting enough, but adjusting to different timezones can be a huge struggle. Book overnight flights when you can so you can get some rest on the flight (you can use your AirPretty plush eye shade). Additionally, it’s always smart to try to adjust to the timezone of your destination by sleeping when it’s night time and staying awake in the daytime.For a more complete list, check out this Forbes article with the 15 worst mistakes you can make when flying.

So you’ve got this awesome, convenient new travel kit full of luxury AirPretty products that promise to make your in-flight experience much more glamorous. But how do you get the most out of the products? Follow these guidelines or make your own AirPretty beauty and comfort ritual. The sky is your oyster!

Be sure to use the AirPretty Apple Blossom Hand Sanitizer often, especially after touching dirty places on the airplane such as your tray table, seat belt, entertainment console, and using the restroom.

After sanitizing, make sure to moisturize your hands with the AirPretty Luxe Moisturizing Creme

Once you’re clean, fresh, hydrated, and comfortable, put on your AirPretty Plush Eye Shade and relax for the flight!

Landing: Freshen up and Flaunt it!

Use some AirPretty Apple Blossom Hand Sanitizer to kill the germs from your flight

Rehydrate your hands with some AirPretty Luxe Moisturizing Creme

Use your AirPretty Wipe to freshen up and get ready for your destination

Apply a thin layer of Luxe Moisturizing Creme to rehydrate

Apply light makeup if desired

Pop an AirPretty Peppermint Breath Mint or two to freshen up your breath and rejuvenate

Happy Tuesday AirPretty travelers! Every Tuesday we offer you some helpful travel beauty tips from our community of travel experts. Share your tips in the comments below and you might be featured as one of our AirPretty Travel Experts on Travel Tip Tuesday!

We connected with Samta Varia, CEO and Founder of Shaadi Shop, to learn more about her beauty tips and regimens for staying gorgeous on the go.

“I wish I could do more with my beauty regimen but with so little time outside of running my startup, I try to maximize bang for time. That also applies to shopping. I use a lot of natural products and things I always have at home, rather than a lot of specialty items.” We agree- using natural products is great for your skin and overall health. Plus, when you’re traveling it’s easier to find these products in stores. Getting too attached to a specific brand or product can leave you out of luck when you’re abroad and your favorite brand is nowhere to be found.

Samta’s tip for eye wrinkles and dark circles: Almond Oil

While working long days, getting little rest, and operating in different time zones, it’s easy for fatigue to catch up to you. We all want to look our best while on the go, and it can be tough to get rid of dark circles and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Samta suggests using a cotton ball to massage a dab of almond oil under your eyes every night before going to bed to minimize wrinkles and reduce dark circles under the eyes.

Samta’s tip for protecting your feet: VapoRub

“My startup, ShaadiShop, is like AirBnB for Indian wedding venues. I meet with a lot of hotel and venue executives, which means I’m walking in heels often.”

To protect your feet and ease the pain, wash your feet every night and then apply a generous layer of Vick’s VapoRub. Don’t forget to put socks on- you don’t want that goo all over your floor or sheets!

Samta’s tip to hydrate your skin: Warm Lemon Water

We stress that hydration is one huge factor in feeling and looking great. Especially when it comes to radiant skin. But there are a few more things you can do to maximize its effectiveness. Drink two glasses (16 oz.) of warm water with lemon juice first thing in the morning.

“Warm water is great for blood circulation and eliminates fat deposits in the body; and lemon is a cleaning agent, that’s why it’s in soaps and detergents. Combining the two is a powerful force for hydrated, great looking skin! Bonus points for doing this first thing in the morning — on an empty stomach — for the most impact!”

Don’t forget to share your tips in the comments below for a chance to be featured as one of our AirPretty Travel Experts on Travel Tip Tuesday! Check back next Tuesday for more helpful travel tips!

Happy Tuesday AirPretty travelers! Every Tuesday we offer you some helpful travel tips from our community of travel experts. Share your tips in the comments below and you might be featured as one of our AirPretty Travel Experts on Travel Tip Tuesday!

We connected with Josephine Lee, founder of The Pointe Shop to learn more about her travel tips. She taught us about the importance of leaving your stress and demands of work at the door. Her advice? Unplug and use the flight time to unwind.

Josephine explains that she has to travel often for work, and that can be a real drain on anyone. “I was flying to New York from California for the third time in a few weeks. Needless to say, I was completely jet lagged and tired. On top of that, I felt behind at work and was anxious the entire time I was on the flight because I had all my emails and text messages going.” We can relate- nothing says STRESS like the incessant chime coming from your phone and laptop.

But with frequent travel comes experience. In fact, Josephine has made some significant changes to her travel rituals. Her tip to fellow AirPretty travelers is to unplug and unwind. Even better, she loves to “read a book or try to do some creative work without interruptions”. And experts agree- taking time to flex your creative muscles is a phenomenal de-stresser and actually improves your mood.

In addition, taking a break from technology and work has multiple benefits including enhanced productivity, neck, back, and eye strain mitigation, and the ability to recharge, increasing happiness and energy levels.

“Now I take full advantage of the time I have on flights. I normally don’t have the luxury to press pause on my life so on flights, I keep my Wi-Fi turned off (no matter how long the flight).”

So on your next trip, try taking a page from Josephine’s playbook and create time for yourself. Turn off your devices and focus on things you enjoy, like reading, writing, coloring, or meditating. Happy traveling!

About Josephine Lee:

Josephine Lee is an industry leading entrepreneur and an award winning public speaker.

Josephine graduated from the University of Southern California in 2010 with a degree in Communication. She was a sports anchor for a student produced nightly newscast called Annenberg TV News. After graduation, she joined Toastmasters International to continue her education in communication. In 2016, she rose above 35,000 contestants to win 3rd place in the World Championship of Public Speaking. This etched her in history as the first Korean American woman to place in the final stage.

Her talents apply to business as well. Josephine opened a dance retail store called Dancer’s Choice Dance Supply in Irvine, CA in 2010. After recognizing a need for more accessible and knowledgeable pointe shoe fittings, she started a traveling pointe shoe fitting company called The Pointe Shop in January of 2014. The Pointe Shop offers professional fittings inside ballet studios as well as individual fittings at the flagship store in Santa Ana, CA. Convenience and expertise helped The Pointe Shop rise to becoming one of the top pointe shoe retailer in the country.

Don’t forget to share your tips in the comments below for a chance to be featured as one of our AirPretty Travel Experts on Travel Tip Tuesday! Check back next Tuesday for more helpful travel tips!

Happy Tuesday AirPretty travelers! Every Tuesday we offer you some helpful travel tips from our community of travel experts. This week we’re going back to our AirPretty staffers for their New Year’s travel resolutions!

It’s officially 2017, which means we’re all thinking about our goals for this year. We always try to have something travel-related on our list, including at least one international trip. Travel lovers know that the cost of weekend getaways and holidays can add up quickly. So how do we afford to visit our dream destinations and still keep money in the bank? Check out our tips below!

Create a vacation savings account

One of the easiest ways to save for a big trip is to open up a special vacation savings account. Budget a realistic amount to put away each month and within a few months you’ll have enough saved up for a future flight or hotel stay! We like to set up an automatic transfer on payday so that we don’t even miss the money we’re saving! Plus, the extra step of transferring the money back to your checking account will make it less tempting to dip into the savings for non-travel related expenses.

Track flight deals

We’re always on the lookout for a good deal, especially when it comes to flights! It’s hard to know when flight prices are going to change. Luckily there are some great apps and sites that do the tracking for us.

We like to use Skyscanner to compare flight prices based on day of the week and time of day. If you’re really set on particular dates, you can set up email alerts that let you know when the cost of your trip is going up or down.

Also, we suggest using the app Hopper. Not only can you set push notification alerts for specific trips, but the app will recognize your local airport and will notify you if there are great flight deals available. They also have a convenient calendar set-up when planning trip dates – each day is color coded based on a range of flight prices so you’ll know right away which weekends might be too expensive.

Sign up for rewards programs and emails

Another easy way to save money for your trips is to sign up for rewards programs and emails. Anytime you book a flight, airlines will offer you the chance to join their frequent flyer programs. Even if you don’t fly often, be sure to sign-up so you earn points for your flight. If you do happen to have a favorite airline, try to use your frequent flyer number on business trips. Those points will quickly add up to a free flight or other rewards!

We also recommend signing up for a travel rewards credit card. Our favorite is the Chase Freedom – you get 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on certain retailers each quarter. This quarter you will be rewarded for gas stations and public transportation. (Sure makes commuting to work a little easier when you’re saving for vacation with each fill-up!)

We also like to sign up for airline-specific deal alerts, so we know if one of our favorites is offering a discount. We love JetBlue’s email program, so be sure to get on their list! Worried about getting spammed with travel emails? Create a separate email account and use that to register for all of your travel deals.

Think about renting a room or house

We’ve focused a lot on flights this post, but what about accommodations? We love staying in a fancy hotel as much as the next traveler, but sometimes they just don’t fit in the budget. We’ve had amazing luck renting apartments and houses on Airbnb and VRBO. Not only can you save money on a room, but you can save yourself some money on food too! We usually make a quick trip by the grocery store for coffee, breakfast food, and snacks to carry throughout the day. Never underestimate how much you can save by cooking a few meals instead of eating at a restaurant!

Prefer to stay in a hotel? Some companies offer corporate hotel discounts to their vacationing employees. Check with your benefits department to see if that’s an option for your destination.

Research local event and conference dates

It’s never fun when you book an amazing flight deal and then find out that hotel prices make up the cost difference. On a recent trip to New York, we learned a tough lesson: always look into local events that overlap with travel dates! We booked a great flight deal but couldn’t find any hotel for under $400 a night! Turns out the United Nations was holding their General Assembly that week, so government officials from all over the world and their security and staff were visiting the city. Make sure you save yourself the headache (and the money!) and do a quick search on local events and conferences before booking anything!

About this week’s Tip Tuesday contributor:Sophia is a Boston native, California transplant, and world traveler. Her mom is a flight attendant, so I guess you could say globetrotting is in her blood! Check out her (self-admittedly neglected) Instagram for photos of her adventures. She’s is also managing the social media accounts for AirPretty – so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Don’t forget to share your tips in the comments below for a chance to be featured as one of our AirPretty Travel Experts on Travel Tip Tuesday! Check back next Tuesday for more helpful travel tips!